time limit

[Amiz 0]

hmm.. i Am a permanent resident of U.S. and i want to ask that if i would stay here in U.S for 3 years constantly and don't go outside during this time then does it shows that i am a residents of U.S? like i mean to say that after passing my 3 years can i go outside U.S after 3 years and stay to another country (Pakistan) for a year.and come back before 12 months? and does my time limit for staying there would not cuts for U.S citizenship...?

[Boiler 45,993]

If you want to go home at some point you will loose you US Permanent Residency.

At which point is arguable.

[Amiz 0]

but my brother he told me that on some website it shows that i can stay outside U.S like a year. and if i come before year completed then i cannot loose my PR and the time limit for staying outside U.S, if i don't go anywhere(aboard) before 3 years then.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

but my brother he told me that on some website it shows that i can stay outside U.S like a year. and if i come before year completed then i cannot loose my PR and the time limit for staying outside U.S, if i don't go anywhere(aboard) before 3 years then.

Your brother is wrong.

You can leave the US once you are a PR whenever you want. Visits outside the US of more than 6 months can be used against you in determining whether you've abandoned your status. You will still need to file taxes, maintain an address here, things like that. Longer than 12 months you have given up your LPR status.

As for citizenship, stays outside the US of course cuts down on your legal presence which is required to gain USC. Staying outside for 6 months and your clock is paused. More than 12 and it's reset. There are a set number of days you need to be in the US in a 5 year period in order to gain USC. Read the guidelines.

[ceadsearc 516]

If you want to stay out of the US for extended periods of time without worrying about maintaining residency, you can always wait until you are eligible for citizenship. Once you are a citizen you can come and go as you please.

[Amiz 0]

and if i go and come back to U.S before 1 year (12 months) then also it cuts my time limit for U.S citizenship? like longer than 6 months and no more than 12 months( within a year)

Edited January 19, 2012 by Amiz

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

*** Moving from General Immigration to Traveling during Immigration *****

[Amiz 0]

*** Moving from General Immigration to Traveling during Immigration *****

what does it means???

[VanessaTony 3,567]

and if i go and come back to U.S before 1 year (12 months) then also it cuts my time limit for U.S citizenship? like longer than 6 months and no more than 12 months( within a year)

Yes. Any time out of the US takes time off your USC clock. It all counts against you.

[Amiz 0]

Your brother is wrong.

You can leave the US once you are a PR whenever you want. Visits outside the US of more than 6 months can be used against you in determining whether you've abandoned your status. You will still need to file taxes, maintain an address here, things like that. Longer than 12 months you have given up your LPR status.

As for citizenship, stays outside the US of course cuts down on your legal presence which is required to gain USC. Staying outside for 6 months and your clock is paused. More than 12 and it's reset. There are a set number of days you need to be in the US in a 5 year period in order to gain USC. Read the guidelines.

and if i go and come back to U.S before 1 year (12 months) then also it cuts my time limit for U.S citizenship? like longer than 6 months and no more than 12 months( within a year)

[Brit Abroad 166]

As a permanent resident you can apply for a re-entry permit, which will cover you for an absence of up to 2 years PROVIDED you intend to return to the US and make it your permanent home.

Read the notes on Form-I 131 linked here. There is a guidance booklet about Re-entry and Permanent Resident status here.

If you are aiming for citizenship, yes, absence of a year will increase the period of time you need to qualify by one year once you return.

[Amiz 0]

As a permanent resident you can apply for a re-entry permit, which will cover you for an absence of up to 2 years PROVIDED you intend to return to the US and make it your permanent home.

Read the notes on Form-I 131 linked here. There is a guidance booklet about Re-entry and Permanent Resident status here.

If you are aiming for citizenship, yes, absence of a year will increase the period of time you need to qualify by one year once you return.

the web page says that i do not need a reentry permit if i will be outside the United States for less than 1 year. If i have been outside the United States for less than 1 year, i may use my Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) as a travel document..

so i have a question..if i stay outside U.S less than 1 year than also it cuts my time period if i would go after 3years on my P.R??..because this is my first time going outside U.S?

and what about in less than 6 months??

[VanessaTony 3,567]

the web page says that i do not need a reentry permit if i will be outside the United States for less than 1 year. If i have been outside the United States for less than 1 year, i may use my Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) as a travel document..

so i have a question..if i stay outside U.S less than 1 year than also it cuts my time period if i would go after 3years on my P.R??..because this is my first time going outside U.S?

and what about in less than 6 months??

As I stated ANY time counts. It just depends. Read the N-400 instructions.

[Amiz 0]

Would u please tell me where is the link of N-400? So that I can go and read it.

[MochiKamo 93]

Google "n-400 instructions". It's the first link.